Learn how to make air fryer home fries. My son gets sick from palm oil which makes it difficult to order fries in restaurants. Restaurants often use frozen French fries that typically contain palm oil as a preservative. The exception is if they make them from whole potatoes on site. If you see them cutting the potatoes, chances are, they are palm oil free.
Depending on the brand, frozen fries in grocery stores sometimes contain palm oil as well. Read labels. Even if the frozen fries don’t contain it, they contain a long list of ingredients.
If you have an air fryer, you can make fries easily with this recipe. Since avoiding palm oil, I’ve learned to make most foods from scratch. Fries are one of our favorites.
Air Fryer Home Fries
Home fries are a favorite with young and old alike. You get that satisfying crispness outside and the delightful, comforting fluffy softness on the inside. Skins on or off, you just can’t beat fries for a fun treat or tasty side for lunch or dinner.
When you are looking for the best potatoes for air fryer home fries, go for russets. They have the best texture, shape, and size for cutting into wedges or chunks.
Here’s our secret for home fries to make them with a perfectly crispy outside, fluffy inside fries: Soak them.
After you peel your potatoes (or not) and cut them to the desired shape and size, soak them in cold water. You want to soak them for about 30 minutes, but it’s okay to go longer. In fact, an hour might be even better. And I promise, you will have the crispiest home fries ever!
Ingredients to Make Air Fryer Fries
- 3 Russet potatoes (skin on or off), cut into wedges or ½ inch chunks
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- Sea salt
This recipe serves three people. It takes just 5 minutes to prep. Do plan accordingly so the potatoes can soak for half an hour. They take 30 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
Leave the potato skins on to save time and for extra vitamins.
How to Make Home Fries in Air Fryer
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F.
- Scrub potatoes or peel. Cut into wedges or ½ inch chunks.
- Soak cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes. (Soaking them in the fridge gives great results.) Drain the potatoes, and pat dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel.
- Put the potatoes in a bowl and drizzle them with oil. Sprinkle them with salt and any additional seasonings, such as paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, etc. Toss with the potatoes so they are coated well. Instead of a bowl, you can also put potatoes in a paper bag or plastic baggie to be sure they are all seasoned well.
- Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket or arrange on the racks (if you don’t have a basket).
- Cook at 390 degrees F for about 15 minutes. Toss (or turn if on the racks) and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes more. Toss or turn after about 5 minutes.
- Remove from the fryer and toss with additional seasoning or salt if desired.
Tips
My air fryer only fits three large, chopped up russet potatoes at a time. I usually make two batches when I make fries. I cut up all the potatoes at once, and soak them together. Then I leave the second batch to soak longer while I’m cooking the first batch.
Topping Ideas
Everyone in my house devours these fries soon after they come out of the air fryer. They are delicious. We don’t miss the extra oil. We love them with Himalayan sea salt and organic ketchup. Sometimes we eat them with just salt.
You can sprinkle garlic powder on them, and grind up some coarse black pepper for added spice. They are delicious so many ways. It’s not like you need to make them more enticing with toppings. Here are some ideas anyways!
- Fresh or dried rosemary
- Parmesan
- Garlic powder
- Parsley
- Onion powder
- McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning – This is my families’ all-around favorite seasoning for air fryer popcorn, baked potatoes, and grilled vegetables.
No matter how you cut the potatoes, in chunks, wedges, or in thinner slices, more like French fries, they are delicious when you cook them in an air fryer.
Homemade Fries in an Air Fryer
The great thing about using an air fryer to make home fries is you use less oil than you would making them in the oven. They are still crispy and have the right amount of oil. I use olive oil but if you want a more tasteless oil, you can use avocado oil.
An air fryer takes up room in the kitchen and to justify having it, I try to make as many things as possible in it to make it worth it. Check out my other air fryer recipes such as air fryer eggplant, and hash browns in air fryer. For sure, my family enjoys these home fries the best. My kids ask for them all the time.
Homemade French Fries
My son has a palm oil allergy and palm oil intolerance. Because we can’t rely on processed foods, we eat very healthy. While this is sometimes difficult and inconvenient, learning how to recreate some favorite restaurant foods makes it easier.
It’s really convenient to make home fries in an air fryer. It justifies me having this larger appliance and answered my question, is an air fryer worth it? Yes! Absolutely, it is!
What I like about this recipe is that potatoes are affordable and readily accessible all year. They always seem to be fresh and in season. I buy organic potatoes when my budget allows and always buy organic olive oil. (I buy the Kirkland Organic Olive Oil from Costco.)
Home fries air fryer
While tubers and potatoes sometimes get a bad rap for the starch, when I think about other foods kids eat, I’m happy these are at least vegetables. Using a good healthy fat such as olive oil make them even better. So as far as junk foods go, I consider these to be very good.
My kids love them and think they are getting a treat. As weird as this may be to say, all of us feel emotionally satisfied after eating them. This means we don’t seek out desserts or snacks after dinnertime.
Make home fries! If you have an air fryer, it’s really easy to do. They are great as a side for lunch, dinner, and as a snack. I also have a recipe for pommes frites with a rosemary and garlic sauce that’s incredible.
Thank you for checking out this air fryer home fries recipe. If you make them, let me know in the Comments below. What are your favorite seasonings? How many potatoes do you need so everyone is happy they are getting enough fries?!
Air Fryer Home Fries
Ingredients
- 3 russet potatoes skin on or off, cut into wedges or ½ inch chunks
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F.
- Scrub potatoes or peel. Cut into wedges or ½ inch chunks.
- Soak cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes. Putting the bowl in the fridge give great results. Drain the potatoes and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Drizzle potatoes with olive oil and put in a bowl, paper bag, or plastic baggie so you can toss them with the seasoning.
- Choose seasonings and toss with the potatoes. Make sure all the potato slices are well coated.
- Place the potatoes in air fryer basket or arrange on the racks (if you don’t have a basket).
- Cook at 390 degrees F for about 15 minutes. Toss (or turn if on the racks) and cook for about 10 - 12 minutes more. Toss or turn after about 5 minutes.
- Remove potatoes from fryer and toss with additional seasoning or salt if desired.